He relocated to the Los Angeles area to pursue his music career. Several years later, he began training at the well-known IMB Academy in Torrance under Sifu Richard Bustillo, an original student of Bruce Lee. With dedication and a strong work ethic he acquired as a consummate musician, he advanced to the level of Staff Instructor in the Jeet Kune Do Concepts. It was also while training at the IMB Academy, that he discovered his true passion, Muay Thai.
Kru Walter’s first Muay Thai instructor was Nanfa Serchadeco, a Rajadamnern Stadium Champion and an Olympic Medalist in Boxing. After Nanfa’s untimely death after only a few years since he began training, Kru Walter was devastated at the passing of his mentor. Several of Nanfa’s friends encouraged him to travel to Thailand to train at the famous Sityodtong Camp with the legendary Grandmaster Yodtong Senanan.